As I write today I am in a reflective mood. This is my last blog for the year 2017. RuthAnn starts her Christmas break on Friday and we are going to spend the holidays together and with family.
As I said I am in a reflective mood. Looking back over the last year I have written 94 blogs and in each one I have endeavored to do two things: one was to share my testimony in a way that glorified God for His saving power through Jesus Christ. And two, encourage anyone out there who has struggles with addictions, that even a hard-core addict like myself can find salvation and a transformed life. We have a God who is able to do all things, and nothing is beyond His love. We can find strength to overcome in Jesus. As His Word encourages, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Since April I have shared many stories from the life I led BC (before Christ). Some have been graphic, and some might say that I seem to be glorifying the life I once led. I can assure you that was never my intention. Every story was told to express the transforming power of both God and His Word. I have always wanted readers to know, “…the word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) And I endeavored in each blog to show what the power of the Word has done to change a man who was lost to sin and degradation to one saved in and by Jesus Christ.
It has been a labor of love sharing Jesus in this way with any willing to read. Writing a 1000-word blog three times a week can be difficult, and I have written them in many different environments and places. I think the most interesting was sitting in front of a tent while being an active member of a dinosaur dig in the wilds of Wyoming. But I have also wrote while cramped on an airplane at 30,000’ and while riding in a car zooming down I-75 in mid Georgia. But no matter where I was writing I was always in prayer for the Holy Spirit to open my heart and mind to sharing just what He wanted my writings to reflect. I like thinking about in as expressed in 1 Corinthians, “which things we also speak, not words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” (1 Corinthians 2:13) I pray I was always able to transmits this in my writings.
And now as a new year approaches I am contemplating a new direction for this blog. I believe God has called me to share my testimony and that will always be part of what I write. But I also believe that it is time that I write within more contemporary themes speaking less of the life once lived and more with what God is doing in my life right now and the miracles I see around me every day. I also hope to write more series of blogs on both the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the beatitudes. I believe in these lie the core of Jesus teaching and we can never share them enough.
One thing will be for sure, my burden for the lost and especially for those who struggle with addictions will always be front and center in the core of my writings. I can never express enough about Jesus’ power to save and encourage with His Word not my words, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for Him.” (Hebrews 7:25) That will always be my goal.
As this year ends, I want to thank any of you who have taken the time to read from these pages. You cannot know how it heartens and encourages me when I hear someone say your words have helped. While I am on hiatus I will continue to re-post the series of blogs I wrote on the fruit of the Spirit. They are some of my favorites and as I stated earlier we can never speak enough of their blessings.
So, as I leave you for this year I want to share my favorite blessing from the Word, “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-28).
A Merry Christ centered Christmas and all my love and prayers for you in the New Year. Come Lord Jesus. But if not before we meet again, may we see each other here soon.
Blessings John
12/13/17